This past weekend I headed north for a few days of R&R at our cabin. Trevor, the oldest grandson, and his grandma Jean tagged along. The weekend started out cool and eventually warmed up and actually turned into a pleasant Memorial Day weekend.

I had plans of fixing the dock this past weekend and we did get that accomplished. When Trevor’s dad was young he always wanted to help me work on projects around the house and I’d let him help. Usually I could give him menial gopher tasks to do and he’d be satisfied. I was the carpenter and he was the helper. Somewhere along the way there was a role reversal. Now I am the helper and he is the carpenter.

This past weekend Trevor stepped into the lead role and did the major work while I was relegated to helping him. He’s a good worker and with his ability and my direction (see straw boss) we were able to fix the dock and accomplish a few other things over the weekend. Our main focus for the weekend was to be fishing but unfortunately we weren’t setting the fishing world on fire.

The first morning the temperature was in the high 30s when we headed out and Trevor and I were the lone participants as grandma opted to stay back. Not only was the weather overcast and cold but my outboard motor was also having a few problems. To make matters worse the trolling motor was shorting out so overall the first morning wasn’t the best mechanically. The fishing was actually not all that bad and we were able to put a few fish in the live well, we even managed to catch enough fish for a nice meal.

That afternoon the sun came out and it warmed up to the high 60s and with the motor situation we decided to explore a few places that we hadn’t been to before. I really enjoy jumping in the truck and exploring new places and checking out the public accesses on different lakes. Most of these accesses are set back in the forest and don’t see a lot of traffic.

When I took Trevor and Jean to the Big Fork River they were impressed with the beauty of it. The one spot, which I found on my last trip, was listed on the faded old sign as an access but it had tiered steps, which would only work with a small carry-in type of boat. Trevor caught a small pike there and we moved on, following the river to a few more places. We managed to wet a line a few times on what turned out to be a beautiful afternoon. We found some places that we definitely will visit again.

The next day started out sunny and it stayed calm and sunny all day. This, unfortunately is not exactly the kind of weather you want on the crystal clear lakes of the area. Fishing had gotten a lot tougher and we fished two different lakes that day in search of hungry fish. We did manage to boat a few crappies and some more small northern but the bites were few and far between. Even though the fishing wasn’t that great the time we spent fishing was fantastic. Trevor had a lot of “follows” by large pike and he spotted numerous pike and some “hawg” bass in the clear water of the lakes we fished.

Many of the big bass were back in the timber right up along the shoreline and sometimes the pike were laying on the edge of old cabbage just waiting for a meal to come to them. Trevor tried to entice them and a few of the pike would follow his lure to the boat only to stop as if losing interest and slowly turn and head back to the depths. The bass acted as if they wanted no part of the action and pretty much ignored anything thrown in their direction.

A fellow fisherman pulled up alongside our boat and asked it we’d had any luck. I said nothing and he said usually at this time of year the lake is really good for big pike and he’d not seen any shallow but had spotted many big fish suspended at 24 feet in 50 feet of water with no takers.

Judging by the vegetation and water temperatures I would venture to guess that the area of the state around Grand Rapids is about two weeks behind. On Saturday, the water temperature starting out was 52 degrees and eventually warmed to 62 by the second day. The area has had a lot of rain and the water level in our little lake is up considerably. If the weather has affected the fish bite the mosquitoes and gnats sure didn’t seem to be bothered by it. The mosquito bite is definitely on, at least in that area of the state.

Take a Kid Fishing Day

Take a Kid Fishing Day sponsored by the Fountain Lake Sportsman’s Club is Saturday, June 6. The event will be held at the Edgewater Park fishing pier from 9 a.m. to noon. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place in both boys’ and girls’ categories. Bait will be furnished and it is a catch-and-release tournament only.

A few fishing reports from around the state:

BRAINERD/NISSWA — The area walleye bite is in full swing. Look for active fish on Gull, North Long and Pelican. During windy days and low light periods, look for fish in water as shallow as 3-5 feet. Trolling shallow running crank banks has been producing. Jigging or running a Lindy rig tipped with a shiner off the first break has been producing too. Look for fish in 10-18 feet. The crappie bite has been hit or miss. With the weather on a roller coaster ride, you have to hit it just right. Look for fish up shallow on any of the area lakes. Puddle jumpers or crappie minnows on plain hooks seem to be the ticket. Move around a lot until you find them and sit and enjoy the bite. It sounds like we could get a string of nice days later next week. This could really turn the crappies on. Cross your fingers!

PARK RAPIDS — The walleye action has been the best on Itasca and Fishhook, in about 9-10 feet of water. Guys are using crawlers and shiners and some leeches. No one has really been out for northerns that we know of. The crappie and sunnies are up in the shallows on all area lakes, Big Man Trap and the Crow Wing chain.

RAINY LAKE — Walleye are congregating on the windward shorelines of Rainy Lake and hitting on jigs tipped with shiner minnows. The depth varies, and can be surprisingly shallow. Crappies are also biting, and they are liking pink, orange and red jigs tipped with a minnow or worm. Big pike continue to be caught in Cranberry and Jackfish Bays and a flashy crank bait works as well as anything. Rainy River anglers are catching walleye just west of International Falls, again near the Littlefork River and a bit further west below the Manitou Rapids. If you fish near the rapids, a good bet is to anchor and cast a spinner and minnow rig. All sorts of wildlife are quite active now, a hiker will easily chance upon squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and quite a variety of songbirds. Near lakeshores and rivers, you will chance upon waterfowl from ducks to loons.

WINNIBIGOSHISH — The weather has been less than perfect, but the walleye bite on Big Winnie is in full swing. As the shiners come into the shallows to spawn the water temperatures are starting to slowly come up to the low to mid-50s. The best depths seem to be 9-11 feet and the Northland Fireball jig in Parrot color, and a shiner, have been a great choice. You have to move to different areas of the lake and the north end seems to have the best, most consistent action. Raven and Mallard Points, Farley Creek, Pigeon Creek and Tamarac Flats have started to produce limits of walleyes. There have also been some nice perch mixed in and an occasional nice northern pike. The crappie fishing has tailed off a bit on Big and Little Cutfoot, and look to the shallows for more consistent action. The weight of your jig is very critical and when the wind blows quarter ounce jigs are the ticket and with less wind one eighth or one sixteenth are the better choices.

MILLE LACS LAKE — A week of bad weather and last Saturday that blew Dorothy off the farm and the fish are still biting. Water temps that are struggling to stay in the 50s and “super-winds” have not put a damper on the bite. For those brave enough and dressed warm enough, this first week of walleye fishing has been a success. The shallow reefs are putting out fish as well as the north end sand breaks in 16-22 feet. We are looking for a fantastic Memorial weekend bite! The water temps will be on the rise and I suspect the bite will rise right along with temps. Cloudy breezy days will still be the best fishing and leeches are going strong out in first place for bait choice.

LEECH LAKE — Leech Lake is hot, the fishing is just getting better every day and you do not have to join the line at pine or stony point now either. The fish are moving out to the bars and reefs, jig and minnows are still the best tactic, but as the water warms leeches and crawler will pick up. Pike and bass are also falling in line with aggressive bites.

BATTLE LAKE — Walleyes — fishing has been kind of slow on most lakes. Look shallow and in the rivers. Try Sugar, Silver, Walker, Ottertail, Big and Little Pine. And Rush in 15-22 feet of water with shiners. Some Otter Tail reports have come from 28-32 feet of water. Northerns – They have been biting on most lakes with suckers in about 15 feet of water while trolling. Clitheral, Ottertail are most popular. Crappies — They are in the shallows, try Blanch, Elbow, Molly Stark with crappie minnows. Sunnies — they are in shallow water. Try Blanch, East Battle, Stalker, and Clitheral. They have been using crawlers, leeches, and gulp.

BEMIDJI — Walleyes are biting on Plantagenet, they are catching them but they are kind of on the smaller side. Bemidji is starting to turn on here too. Irvin has been steady, Andrusia too … any lake with a river system going through has been good. Gold and silver colors have been the choice jig colors, tipped with shiners. No leech bite as of yet.

BLACKDUCK — We have had a good bite going on Blackduck. A lot of 13-14 inch walleyes, most all catching limits. Some are starting to throw cranks. There is a really good bite going on Red Lake, jig and minnow up there. Gull and Island has been OK too. Some panfish reports on Rabideau.

Until next time enjoy the great Minnesota outdoors and let’s go fish’n.

Remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers throughout the year.